Water glass and cup washer



Patented June 5, 1951 U NJITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE WATER GLASS AND CUP'WASHER 'GeorgeE: Sandell andlBeatrice E.:'.Sandell, Hol wo a Application June 11, 1948, Serial No."32,304

. 2 "Claims.

This invention relates to water glass and'cup washers and more specificallyto a new; and im- ":pPOVed scouring; washing and/or cleansing agent as exemplified in-a-n optionally portable apparatus which may be positioned in a sink" or the 71 like and overwhich specific embodiment Water glasses and cups; may be nestingly forced and turned for oleaning their interior surfaces.

Priorartflevices of the general character intended-"ha-Ve been madein the form of bristled brushes and the like with or without-means for forcing streams of waterinto the interior of the -cups orglasses-to tie-cleaned. The cleansing ef- 'fect'ofsuch prior articles/ices has-not'been satisfactory because a desired pumping action or replenishment of wash 'water'whether'qs oapy or -otherw-ise has not taken place "nor" has theentire vinteidor surface been properlyscouredor even rontacted-by thebristled or other washing surf faces. Moreover, in washing glasses of different .Jdiameters and shapes;suitableconforming adap- :tation =of the adjacent washing surfacesto' the Washed surfaces has not taken place.

.;.is-'therefore an object of this invention to oproyide anew and improved washing element, as :mostidesirablyembodied in a water glass and cup washer,iithe -latterbeing of simple construction,

minimum-numberof operative parts, and susceptible. ofieconomical mass production.

rAlflOthEl' ;object of: this invention is to provide :a new arid-improved: water glass and cup washer having :i-mproved optionally replaceable operative w rts.

Another obj ectzof this invention is to provide in waterglass and cup washer a new and imlr provedautomatic pumping action for'wash-water to arsourceof which theydevice may be connected or nto WhiChflt is "designed'to'bepermanently or empprarily positioned. It-isanother obje ctof this invention to provide r new and improved scouring and cleansing means gqiorglasses. cupsand other householdx-uses' in combination-with an appropriate abrasive: and/ or emulsifying agent.

,Another. further object of the; invention @is to provide new -and. improved supporting means for .fla water. glassand cup washer of the desired character described.

.Another specific objector the inventionis the v provision ofqa, cleansing .agentand means ofimproved. construction and composition.

'1. It. is also among the objects: of this invention 1 .to provide. improvements in: shape, construction andlcomposition, over ,prior art devices; and; materials generally, intended. to -accompl ish;.a. similan. purpose.

"2 With these and other objects in view,.; the invention consists in the construction, arrange- I nent and combination of the variousparts of the device whereby the objects contemplated, are-attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in'theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing: 1 Figure 1 is a vertical elevational view,; partially in section, of a preferredembodiment of la water glass and cup washer illustrative'ofzthis invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the same as used.

Figure 3 is a verticalelevational view;.partia'lly in section, of another-preferred form of the invention as disposed-in a sink or other ,basin of water for use.

Figure 41s a vertical elevational View, parts bedisposed sleeve l l extending Well into the body of the sponge material In. The-sleeve may make a removable connection, e.-g., threaded; with a stud l2, the latter comprising an axial extension upon a verticalshaft orarm l3 as shown.

A washer l4 extends radially from the arm l3 providing a support for the base lilo of the sponge ill. For such purpose the-arm [3 may be formed with ashoulder -I5against which the Washer 14 is held whenthe sponge I 0 is threaded to a fullest extent on thenstud l 2.

The sponge H3" may be bonded in'anygwellknown manner as by cement to the sleeve H throughout the external or common surface" l5a of the sleeve ll and-sponge l0 and may thereby made replaceable so that separate units of the sponge l0 and its optionally integral sleeve H may. be substitutedorxreplaced upon the arm' l3 and washer. I l.

The arm l3 maybe formed with, thread IB at its lower end. for; connection with-corresponding thread 17 formed in a boss l'la provided as'on a V suction cup 18.

.made of rubber continuousslwith themainbody Thesboss Ila as shown may be pfthe suction cup. l8: orrfthesame may be formed .downward1y below the flange i4.

of more rigid material such as wood, plastic, metal, or the like, into which the lower end of the arm l3 may be threaded. In that case, such diiferent material would necessarily be bonded in a manner known to those skilled in the art to the rubber portion of the suction cup i8.

.In order to facilitate removal of the suction cup l8 when the same is in an operative position, a suitably shaped ear I9 is positioned at the periphery [9a, which when lifted will break the vacuum of the cup 18.

In its use as a water glass or cup washer, the glass or the like 20 is forced over the sponge cleaning element to as illustrated in Figure 2 until the bottom inside portion 22 of the glass contacts and compresses the concave upper end In this" position the annu lar lip Hid is firmly pressed against the inner."

[a of the=sponge l0.

corners 22a within the bottom of the glass and is compressed thereby so that upon slight rotation of the "glass relative to the spongea very effective wiping and optionally abrasive and fcleansing actionis secured. Simultaneously the axial downward movement of the glass 28 over the i f tapered side lflb of the sponge compresses the latter against the inner walls 2| of the glass for the full depth thereof. The.spon'geshould be formed of a sufiiciently of the glass-to the bottomfl22 thereof. r

"An examination of Figure 2 will disclose that tapered wall lOb as well as the bottom edge or base Ilic of the sponge are normally depressed Thus, the ordinarily tapered inside of the glass 20, the sleeve l i, and the supporting fiange l4, provide'surfaces between and against which a considerable amount .of. compression is given the sponge In. This action may be utilized in the manner of a pump asvvill be most apparent from a consideration" of the embodiment of Figure 3.

1 In Eigure 3 a sponge iilhaving a concave upper end we and tapered sides lllb may form a substantially truncated cone. The cleansing element thus provided may be positioned on a suction cup'IBa optionally formed with an ear 19a An arm or shaft formed with an axial passage 26, therein may likewise be formed with an integral radiallyextending supporting flange 21.

All supporting structure for the sponge, in the ;;formof Figure 3, including the radially extending flanges 21 and their upturned marginal edges 2s, the upper end 29a of the armj25 including said arm, and the suction portion [8a and ear tea, may similarly be molded integrally from relatively hard rubber or analogous resilient material.

. "rgediameterso that glasses of conventional.- fs'ize are automatically cleansed by the tapered the sponge has been compressed so that mar gfinal edge portions 22c comprising portions of the 4- above the port 32. A pumping action by the sponge it] during the normal use of the device, as hereinabove set forth, is occasioned by the intermittent compression and expansion thereof during use. Thus, when a glass is pressed downwardly over the sponge, any water within the same will be squeezed out and will drain out of the glass between the sponge and 'the interior wall of the glass, being prevented from return by way of the passage 25 to the source 36 because of the check valve 30. On the other hand, wash water 36 is drawn through the'port 32 and the passage 26 into the sponge Iii during the expansive movementv of the sponge as whena glass is removed therefrom. In this manner water is continually and automatically refreshed and replenished in the sponge !0 by a pumping cycle, 1. e., via the port 32, the passage 3!, the passage 26, the sponge Iii and (through compression of the sponge by the glass, etc.) back from the-glass to the source 36. v Manifestly, in lieu of the suction cup 1| 8 of Figures 1 and 2 or the suction cup l8a of Figure-.3, any other suitable supporting member may be provided whether temporary or permanent. And while in the forms under consideration the device is normally caused to adhere to the surface 3! or bottom 31a of a drain board or wash basin, respectively, the same may likewise be caused to extend horizontally from a vertical wall. In such case, in the form of Figure 3 (unlessthe sponge support is modified in an obvious manner as by an auxiliary conduit) the device would lose its desired pumping eifect." V 7 Therefore, it is also within the contemplation of this invention to provide a direct connection with the passage 26 by a pipe leading to a customary water supply under pressure whereby fresh water may be continuously passed into and through the sponge ID to supply fresh water -,to the glasses, cups, etc., as they are cleansed'thereby.

Aside from its highly satisfactory properties as a cleansing agent, per se, sponge rubber,

I whether natural or synthetic, provides an admay if desired, be embodied in a scouring soap'of well-known composition. Such scouring agents, either with or without added soap, may be directly mixed with a raw or uncured rubber material of which the sponge is to be manufactured prior .to molding or cutting the desired sponge into its finished form. By this technique, substantially any amount, as approximately 10 to 50 percent, of the weight or bulk of the cleaning element It] may comprise a detergent or an abrasive or any combination or part percentage of these. Obviously, an increase in the amount of abrasive, or

r soap will increase the rigidity of the element '10.

Flow through the passage 26 may be controlled by a check valve30 and for such purpose may be providedwith-a-lateral passage 3| communicating as by means of a restricted port 32 with the out-' side at a point adjacent the suction cup base lfla.

A seat 33 for a ball valve 34 may be thus provided and a coil spring 35'may normally urge the same against said seat '33 to close said port 32.

3 is designed to be positioned within a sink or other container 32a, the Water 35 normally con jv tained therein should be maintained at a level Moreover, the density of the sponge rubber may bevaried asdesired either together with the proportion of scouring or abrasive material or independently to provide a scouring pad or element of suitable firmness for any intended use.

As noted, utilization of sponge or even solid rubber, whether natural or artificial, as a matrix and carrying agent for a detergent and/or scouring materials, while particularly adapted for use in a water glass and cup washer as herein illustrated, is conceived of as an essential portion of the novelty of the instant invention and it is contemplated that whether used in the formof a glass cleaner or as a scouring agent in the form of a scouring pad of any shape, round, square, oblong, fiat, discoid, or the like, may be made and used separately.

The element 10, of Figures 1 and 2 in particular, may be replaceable in sponges of varying degrees of hardness and having any desired amount of scouring agent or detergent embodied therein. Such detergent or scouring agents may be concentrated on the periphery of the sponge or may be uniformly distributed therethrough, or they may be distributed thereon or therein in any other manner, as by concentrating the soap in the center and the scouring agent at the surface. If uniformly distributed, the soap to some extent and the scouring agent ordinarily to a greater extent, will become exposed by attrition of the sponge, being more or less sealed in the body or cells of the rubber until such time.

The further modified form of Figure 4 in most respects resembles the form of Figure 1, parts corresponding thereto being therefor similarly numbered, except for the permissible optional omission of the rim [d of Figure 1 and of the similar optional omission of the washer M. The embodiment of Figure 4 features a ball 50 on the lower end of the stem l3 slidably insertable into or removable from a suitable socket 5| formed in the rubber body of the suction cup [8.

Thus, by grasping the handle 13 the same may be axially removed from the socket 5[ whether the latter is operatively in place or not and may be either permanently or temporarily utilized in such removed condition as for washing the rims of glasses or forcibly thrusting the same axially into a glass or the like for Washing the latter in a manner similar to that heretofore set forth in connection with the description of the previous embodiment.

In the event that the suction cup 18 is retained in its adherent relationship to the surface 31, the neck 52 of the shaft thereby bearing on corresponding shoulders 53 of the suction cup there-adjacent serves to maintain the stem I3 in a desired attitude of extension which is sufficiently rigid for normal use of the apparatus first described inasmuch as the principal force exerted upon the sponge I0 is in an axial direction.

If desired and to prevent rotation of the sponge on its axis when a glass or cup is turned thereon, the ball 50 may be made elliptical in form or may have other irregular cross-sectional configurations, and the socket 5| may be correspondingly shaped to suit in order that the member 50 will not rotate within the socket 51, although it is susceptible of axial removal and insertion as by temporary distortion and spreading of the shoulders 53.

This invention features the provision of a new and improved glass and cup washer as embodying a new and improved cleansing and scouring element either usable with an appropriate framework as described or independently thereof.

It is therefore within the contemplation of this invention, as stated, to provide a new and improved scouring means for general household cleaning.

Likewise featured by this invention is a new and improved means for conducting wash water with or without a detergent dissolved optionally therein automatically through a cleaning and scouring element as described to a point of use.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures. Thus the terms rubber, sponge or sponge rubber as herein used are intended to denote plastic materials such as plastic foam, Vinylite and other materials of readily deformable and resilient quality.

The invention having been herein described, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A water glass and sup washer comprising a main base, an arm extending from said base, a sponge rubber cleansing body of substantially truncated conical shape co-axially mounted upon the end of the arm distal from said base, and a radially extending resilient flange on said arm as and for a support for said sponge body, said flange being co-extensive with the base of said truncated conical body and composed of relatively harder rubber.

2. A water glass and cup washer comprising a main base, an arm extending from said base, a sponge cleansing body mounted upon the end of the arm distal from said base, said arm defining a conduit communicating between the interior of said cleansing body at a point adjacent said main base, and a one-way valve in said conduit permitting a flow of wash water at said base into said sponge body in response to successive forced compressions and normal re-expansions of said sponge body as used.

GEORGE E. SANDELL. BEATRICE E. SANDELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 484,422 Gunn Oct. 18, 1892 1,104,252 Dunham July 21, 1914 1,317,523 Meyer et al -1 Sept. 30, 1919 1,577,944 Bennington Mar. 23, 1926 1,690,960 Yamanaka Nov. 6, 1928 1,936,259 Parmer Nov. 21, 1933 1,939,707 Kerber Dec. 19, 1933 2,107,636 Kingman Feb. 8, 1938 2,225,101 Conk et al Dec. 17, 1940 2,232,389 Jurkat Feb. 18, 1941 2,270,744 Singer Jan. 20, 1942 2,339,547 Carter Jan. 18, 1944 2,395,054 Levine Feb. 19, 1946 2,395,068 Rimer Feb. 19, 1946 2,413,551 Englund 1 Dec. 31, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 190,690 Switzerland Aug. 2, 1937 364,770 Great Britain Jan. 14, 1932 

